Lykes Lines has taken delivery of two new ships, the Lykes Flyer and the Lykes Deliverer.
Built at China Shipbuilding Corp in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the Lykes Flyer is a sister ship to the Lykes Ranger, which was delivered to the line in June 2002. Both are owned ships, while the Lykes Deliverer is a new build on long-term charter.
The 3,200-TEU Lykes Flyer will begin operation on the Pacific Sprint service, before joining the Lykes Ranger on the United States Gulf — East Coast South America service. The 4,050-TEU Lykes Deliverer has been deployed on the Pacific Sprint service, Lykes Lines' weekly service between Asia and the United States and Mexico.
All the new ships have 400 reefer slots, making them particularly suited to carrying the range of temperature-controlled cargo shipped on these trades.
Operated with six ships over two loops, the US Gulf — East Coast South America service is a weekly fixed-day service, calling at Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, New Orleans, Miami, Port of Spain, Salvador, Rio De Janeiro, Vitória, Santos, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, Itajai, and Puerto Cabello.
The Pacific Sprint calls Yokohama, Kobe, Hong Kong, Kaoshiung, Pusan, Kobe, Yokohama, Los Angeles, Ensenada, Manzanillo, and Yokohama.
The Lykes Flyer and Lykes Ranger have been delivered under parent company CP Ships' four-year $800 million ship replacement program, which will be completed later in 2003.
